What's hunting worth in NSW?

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has released the report into the economic impact of hunting in NSW. NSW DPI funded this research with the Game and Pest Trust Fund which puts Game Hunting Licence fees to work.

The 2014 DEPI report on the economic impact of hunting in Victoria showed that recreational hunting was worth $439 million to the Victorian economy, and provided 3,480 full-time equivalent jobs across the state. The results from the Victorian study showed that nature-based tourism such as hunting, could deliver outcomes for the economy as well as providing motivation and outcomes for conservation and pest animal management, along with social and recreation benefits.

There are 19,000 game licence holders in NSW, and 207,000 non-game licence holders who undertake recreational hunting. The three main animal groups hunted in NSW are non-indigenous game animals such as deer and introduced game birds; native game birds; and non-indigenous animals such as pigs, rabbits, dogs and foxes that are often referred to as feral or pest animals. Hunting of pest animals on private land does not require a game licence to be held.

Recreational hunting by the 19,000 NSW game hunting licence holders account for $119 million and 860 jobs within the NSW economy. The economic contribution from the 207,000 hunters who do not hold a game hunting licence is estimated at being between $446 million and $1.36 billion, equating to between 3,932 and 11,572 jobs.

With the most conservative results from the study, recreational hunting of pest and game animals in NSW contributes $565 million to the state economy.